5 things I wish everyone knew about Coaching, By Katie Denyer

I found this brilliant article the other day by Katie Denyer which, to me, really highlights what Coaching is all about!

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/5-things-i-wish-everyone-knew-coaching-katie-denyer/

At a time where Coaching is a buzz word and everyone appears to be a Coach, it’s caused confusion and made it less accessible for those that would really benefit from it.

I believe the world would be a better place if we were all coaches, I believe in the power of coaching that deeply.

We would be more empathetic, more present, better connected, happier, fulfilled human beings.

What a world that will be!! ??

The more we have people like Katie bringing clarity to the truth of coaching the better it will be for us all ??

Here's what Katie wrote if you don't have time to click through the above link....

Enjoy.

Executive and Leadership Coaching is on the rise. And for good reason. Studies show an average return on investment of anything between 500 and 750 percent. Benefits include improved productivity and relationships, enhanced job satisfaction and retention, lower stress levels and higher bottom-line profitability.

However, there seems to be a huge misconception that Coaches are advice-giving, tell-me-what-to-doers. Which couldn't be further from the truth.

We live in a world where we are interrupted, on average, every 8 seconds. Family, friends, partners and colleagues all keen to tell us what to do and how to think before we've even finished our sentence. So much so that thinking for ourselves has become a radical concept.

So in a world full of free advice, you're certainly not going to pay me for mine.

You're going to pay me for my skill NOT to advise; NOT to interrupt; NOT to tell you what to do.

Which leads me onto the five things I wish everyone knew about coaching...

1. You are the expert (not me) – I do not need to be an expert in your industry. You are the expert. I need to listen to you with genuine curiosity and respect, to pose meaningful questions and to pay palpable attention to everything you do and do not say. When you feel truly seen and heard your ability to think clearly, innovatively and decisively improves exponentially. Therefore you don’t need my ‘expertise’ - you’ll find it all within yourself.
2. Most change happens outside the Coaching Session – If you put the work in. You will discover lots of thought-provoking and interesting things about yourself during a coaching session. Your role, once that session is over, is to go away and experiment. To practice new ways of communicating, behaving, leading, relating, goal-setting and planning. To note what works well and what doesn’t work so well. And then to talk about that the next time you see me. Until you see positive change consistently, both in yourself and in others’ responses towards you.
3. You can already be highly successful – Coaching is for high achievers (as well as for poor performers). Perhaps you’re ready for more; to make even more impact, to create even bigger results, to raise your emotional intelligence. Coaching is for making the great even greater; for uncovering hidden blocks and unknown fears; for transforming the way you see the world; for taking you in new and exciting directions; for totally shifting your mindset; and for making the most of any unspent potential.
4. It can be creative, fun and dynamic – Coaching doesn't always have to be two chairs and a spotlight. Coaching can involve getting outside, taking a walk, being playful, brainstorming, mind-mapping, drawing, role-playing, writing...Skyping. There are so many different ways to coach. You are allowed a sense of humour and you are allowed to enjoy yourself. Let me know what works best for you, and if you don't have that figured out already, we can figure that out together.
5. It is time just for you - To think, create, learn, solve problems, generate ideas, raise awareness - without any distractions or interruptions. It allows you time and space to slow down; to be completely yourself - without any fear of judgement.

Coaching Conversations do not conform to everyday conversations; they disrupt them - by the attention we give, the curiosity we bring and the safety we provide.

Thinking for yourself is a radical concept.